So, Palm Sunday is right around the corner. You know the drill—the crowds, the cloaks, the palm branches, and that triumphant entry into Jerusalem. It’s a big deal, the official kickoff to Holy Week. But if you’re like me, explaining the significance of this day to a bunch of wiggly kids can feel a little… well, impossible.
I used to dread the “sit-down-and-listen” approach. My kids would be more interested in the dust bunnies under the couch than the story of Jesus riding into town on a donkey. I needed a major game-changer. And honestly, the best thing I ever did was stop trying to just tell the story and start finding ways for them to experience it.
Over the years, I’ve collected a treasure trove of hands-on, slightly chaotic, and utterly wonderful activities that help kids celebrate and actually understand Palm Sunday. Whether you’re a parent, a Sunday school teacher, or just the designated fun aunt or uncle, I’ve got you covered. Here are 10 of our absolute favorite Palm Sunday activities for kids that are guaranteed to make the story stick.
1. The Great Palm Branch Hunt & Parade
Okay, this one is ridiculously simple but it’s always a hit. First, you need palm branches. Now, depending on where you live, this might be as easy as walking into a church that’s handing them out, or you might need to get creative.
- The Set-Up: I usually grab a few from our church after the service, but you can also buy them at some florists or even make simple ones out of green construction paper or craft foam. (FYI, if you’re using paper, make them sturdy!)
- The Activity: Hide the branches around your house or yard. Then, tell the kids they have to go on a “Palm Branch Hunt” to find them. Once they’ve gathered them all, it’s parade time!
- The Parade: Crank up a festive praise song (we love “Hosanna” by Hillsong Kids) and march through the house, waving those branches high. Shout “Hosanna!” and lay them on the floor like a path for Jesus. It gets loud, it gets joyous, and it perfectly mirrors the excitement of the people in the story.
2. DIY Donkey Crafts (Because the Star of the Show!)
You can’t have Palm Sunday without a donkey! It’s the unsung hero of the day. I’ve tried a million donkey crafts, but my absolute favorite is the simple paper bag donkey.
- What You’ll Need: A brown paper lunch bag, some grey or brown paint or markers, construction paper for ears, and googly eyes (because everything is better with googly eyes).
- How We Do It: Have the kids paint or color the bag. While it dries, they can cut out two ear shapes. Once the paint is dry, stuff the bag with a little newspaper to give it some shape, then glue or tape on the ears and eyes.
- The Best Part: You can use these donkeys for a little puppet show retelling the story. Have one kid hold their donkey while another waves a palm branch. It’s interactive storytelling at its finest, and it totally beats a boring lecture.
3. “Hosanna!” Praise Stick Craft
Let’s be honest, kids love making noise. It’s a scientific fact, IMO. So why not harness that energy into a purposeful craft? Enter the Praise Stick.
- The Materials: Wooden craft sticks, colorful ribbons, jingle bells (the louder, the better!), and some glue or tape.
- The Instructions: Kids can glue or tie ribbons and bells to one end of their craft stick.
- The Point: Explain that when the people welcomed Jesus, they were celebrating and praising him. They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “save us.” When we wave our Praise Sticks and make noise, we are doing the same thing—celebrating that Jesus is our King. It’s a tangible way for them to connect praise with a physical action. Just be prepared for the resulting (joyful) noise levels. :/
4. Re-enact the Parade with a Real (Toy) Donkey
This activity is for the days when you have a little more time and a lot of imagination. We have a small, ride-on toy donkey that my kids love, but you could easily use a stuffed animal or even just have the kids pretend.
- Act It Out: Assign roles: Jesus, the disciples, and the crowd. Grab your palm branches (from activity #1!) and cloaks. In Bible times, people laid their cloaks on the road for royalty. So, have the “crowd” lay down blankets or jackets on the floor.
- The Main Event: One child (or adult) leads the “donkey” with Jesus on it (or just walking alongside a stuffed animal). The crowd waves their branches and shouts, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
- Why It Works: Acting it out helps them understand the honor and excitement of the moment. They feel like they’re actually in the story, not just watching it from the sidelines.
5. Palm Sunday Story Stones
This is a fantastic quiet-time activity that doubles as a storytelling tool for years to come. We made a set a few years ago and still pull them out every Lent.
- Get Your Supplies: You’ll need smooth, flat stones (river rocks are perfect), acrylic paint or paint markers, and a clear sealant if you want them to last.
- Creating the Story: Work with your kids to paint simple symbols on the stones. Think about the key elements:
- A donkey
- A palm branch
- A cloak (maybe just a simple shape)
- A crowd of people
- A sun (for the day)
- The word “Hosanna”
- Using the Stones: Once they’re ready, lay them out in order and have your child use them to retell the Palm Sunday story back to you. It’s a brilliant way to check their understanding without making it feel like a test.
6. Edible Palms (A Tasty Treat!)
Alright, this one might be my favorite. Probably because it involves snacking. This activity is perfect for a Palm Sunday brunch or a special afternoon snack.
- The Ingredients: You’ll need sugar cookies (store-bought or homemade), green icing, and some green fruit for the leaves. We’ve used sliced kiwi, green apple slices cut into leaf shapes, or even long, thin strips of green melon. Pretzel sticks can also work for a crunchier version!
- Assembling: Let the kids frost their cookie with the green icing. Then, they can arrange the fruit slices to look like palm fronds fanning out from the center.
- The Best Bit: You get to eat it while talking about how the people waved palm branches to welcome their King. It’s delicious and educational. Total win.
7. Map the Journey
This one is for the slightly older kids who are starting to grasp geography and history. It helps put the story in context.
- What to Do: Print out a simple map of ancient Israel. You can find great ones online. Mark key locations like Jerusalem, Bethany, and Bethphage.
- The Activity: Using the Bible (John 12 and Matthew 21 are good places to start), trace the path Jesus would have taken from Bethany, over the Mount of Olives, and into Jerusalem.
- The “Aha!” Moment: Talk about why this was such a big deal. He wasn’t just arriving in a random city; he was entering the holy city of Jerusalem, the place of the Temple. The Passover crowds were massive, so everyone was there to see it. Ever wonder why the atmosphere was so electric? It’s because of the who, the where, and the when.
8. “Cloak” the Path with Fabric Scraps
This is a fantastic sensory activity for younger kids, but older ones get into the creativity of it, too. Remember how the people laid their cloaks on the road?
- The Setup: Gather a bunch of old fabric scraps, scarves, towels, or even pieces of felt. The more textures and colors, the better.
- The Activity: Challenge the kids to create a “royal path” for Jesus. They can lay the fabric scraps all over the floor, maybe even overlapping them, to make a soft, colorful road.
- The Connection: Explain that this was a sign of ultimate respect. They were giving up their own garments to honor Jesus as he passed by. You can then have them lead a “donkey” (a willing sibling or a stuffed animal) down the path they created.
9. Sing a New Song
We have our go-to Palm Sunday songs, but sometimes introducing a new, simple chant can really bring the story home.
- The Idea: Teach your kids a simple, call-and-response praise chorus. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
- Something Like This:
- Leader: “Jesus, you are King!”
- Response: “Hosanna!”
- Leader: “Praises we will bring!”
- Response: “Hosanna!”
- Add Movement: Clap on “Hosanna!” or wave your palm branches on it. Repeating the word and connecting it to a physical action helps cement its meaning. It’s not just a fancy old word; it’s a shout of joy and a plea for help.
10. A Simple Palm Sunday Sensory Bin
If you have a toddler or preschooler, a sensory bin is your absolute best friend. It contains the mess (mostly) and gives them a hands-on way to explore the story.
- The Base: Use dried green lentils or split peas for the “ground.” Throw in some green and brown pom-poms for bushes and trees.
- The Characters: Add some small figures—a little man figure for Jesus, a small donkey toy (Playmobil or similar works great), and some little people for the crowd.
- The Extras: Include small craft sticks for palm branches and small squares of fabric for cloaks.
- Let Them Play: Just let them explore! They’ll naturally start moving the figures around, and you can sit with them and gently narrate the story. “Look, Jesus is riding the donkey down the path. The people are waving their palm branches. Can you make them shout ‘Hosanna’?” It’s pure, unhurried learning.
Making the Story Stick
So there you have it. Ten ways to make Palm Sunday more than just a story you tell, but a day you actually experience together. It doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect or run on a strict schedule. Honestly, the most meaningful moments often come from the chaos—the donkey craft that ended up with three ears, or the parade that got a little too rowdy. Embrace it. 🙂
The goal is simply to plant those seeds. Years from now, they might not remember every detail of the sermon, but they’ll remember the feeling of waving a palm branch and shouting “Hosanna!” with you. And that, my friend, is a pretty powerful thing.
Now, go forth and get a little messy with those palms! Which of these activities are you going to try first? I’d love to hear about your Palm Sunday adventures in the comments.
